People group profile · PG020242
The Javanese of Malaysia
The Javanese of Malaysia, numbering about 729,000 people, are Unengaged and Unreached. They are an Austronesian ethnic group indigenous to the central and eastern part of the Indonesian island of Java.
They are a diaspora people in the Jawa people cluster of the Malay Peoples. Their primary religion is Folk Islam, and they primarily speak Sabah Malay.
Fast facts
- Country
- Malaysia
- Population
- 729,000
- Affinity group
- Asian Pacific Rim Peoples
- People cluster
- Jawa
- Primary language
- Sabah Malay (msi)
- Primary religion
- Folk Islam
- Strategic Progress Index
- Unengaged and Unreached
- Evangelical
- No Known Evangelicals
- GSEC
- Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
- Lostness priority
- Frontier Unreached People Group
- Region
- South-Eastern Asia, Asia
Where they live
Gospel status
The Javanese are Unengaged and Unreached, which means fewer than 2% are evangelical Christians, and there has been no reported church planting activity in the past two years. In GSEC terms, this people group is less than 2% evangelical, some evangelical resources are available, but there has been no active church planting among them within the past two years.
- Congregations exist No
- Church planting in the last two years No Churches Planted
Next steps for the Javanese
- Pray that God would send workers to this people group
- Begin sowing the gospel and seek out people of peace
- Plant the first churches consistent with evangelical faith and practice
Primary religion
Folk Islam · Islam
97% adherents
Primary language
Sabah Malay · Austronesian family
100% speak Sabah Malay
Gospel resources in Sabah Malay
- Bible available, published 2022
- JESUS Film not available
- Radio programs not available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources not available
- Bible stories available
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Javanese
- Romans 10:14–15. Ask God to send messengers, so that people can hear, believe and call on the name of the Lord.
- Matthew 9:37–38. Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest field.
- 2 Timothy 2:2. Pray for faithful local leaders who will teach others, so that the church multiplies.
- Ephesians 5:8. Pray that those walking in darkness will turn to the light and live as children of light.
Orang Java (Javanese) in other countries
The same people (ROP3 112316) is reported in 5 other countries.
| People group | Country | Population | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Javanese Transmigrants | Indonesia | 16,260,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Javanese | Singapore | 12,000 | No Longer Unreached |
| Javanese | Australia | 7,900 | No Longer Unreached |
| Javanese | United States | 250 | Unengaged and Unreached |
| Javanese | Christmas Island | 50 | Unengaged and Unreached |
Know something we don't? Submit updates to IMB Global Research.